New Ensemble Honors Hannaford
A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez, 41, has played with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 17 years. Yearning for additional musical expression, she formed The Hannaford Ensemble, a septet of her CSO colleagues who have played at several venues, including the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park, performing both classical and modern works. Other performances this year were with the CSO Chamber Players and at Miami University.
“We get to play things that aren’t always played,” she says. They receive a modest honorarium for their efforts. The compensation offsets the expenses, but it’s worth the trouble, she says. “We have artistic control behind what we do,” she notes. At the symphony, the music director and conductor often choose the program. As a smaller group, The Hannaford Ensemble can spread their wings. “We try to do other things than the orchestra,” even though the CSO, under contractual agreement with the American Federation of Musicians, keeps them busy.
They rehearse on their own time, with no conductor. Next season, they would like to expand their repertoire. Denisse remembered that the Berlin Philharmonic has an ensemble named after its architect Hans Scharoun. That idea prompted the name of The Hannaford Ensemble, honoring the architect of Music Hall, Samuel Hannaford, who designed several buildings in Cincinnati.
Ensemble musicians include Charles Bell, James Lambert, Hugh Michie, Scott Mozlin, Matthew Lad and Benjamin Freimuth in addition to Denisse, the only woman in the septet. Instruments are violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon. There is a short list of pieces that the musicians play. Sometimes, Denisse will write an arrangement of a particular piece. Of the Ensemble, she says, “We’re all friends. They’re good people.”
Although this is a new effort, there is support from CSO musicians and management. Some attend performances of the Ensemble. The Ensemble also participates in community service recitals. Paavo Järvi, music director laureate of the CSO, has attended their concerts. Although the group does not include CSO principal or first-chair players, it consists of players who have significant musical experience. “We need the playing exposure,” says Denisse. “The musicians feel appreciated. It helps them so much and gives us a reason to play. We just want to play great music.”
Venues are often found by word of mouth. The Ensemble found the Redeemer chapel a beautiful, intimate space with excellent acoustics. “We were thrilled,” Denisse observes. They choose a program to interest the audience and to keep it engaged. The challenge for her is dealing with musicians who are busy and working out the appropriate rehearsal and performance schedules. “We love doing the concerts,” she says.
With a passion for music that is not often played, Denisse cites Schubert’s Octet in F major, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 as examples of pieces she would like the Ensemble to play. “You have to perform at your highest level,” she says. “You’re more like an athlete.”
At 25, Denisse came to CCM as an undergraduate to continue her studies in viola. By the time she auditioned for the CSO, she had played in seven orchestras, including the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Puerto Rico Symphony. When she tried out for the CSO, she competed with 100 other applicants. Now a regular with the CSO, she plans to retire there.
Two of her three children, Cristina, 16 and Denisse, 13 are studying instruments (she also has a son Jaime, 9), so musical themes run through the family. They are all students in the Forest Hills School District. In addition, Denisse teaches viola, not a popular instrument, out of her house. “I wish I had more students,” she says.
Denisse comments positively on the upcoming renovation of Music Hall. It needs some infrastructure work as well as cosmetic changes. “Music Hall is where we live,” she concludes.